Humanoid Robots: Schaeffler Wins Award for High-Performance Compact Actuators
Actuators are an important component of humanoid robots. Schaeffler offers powerful actuators that have now won an award.
Schaeffler's planetary gear actuator can move the joints of humanoid robots.
(Image: Schaeffler)
Automotive supplier Schaeffler has received a Hermes Award for its compact, high-performance actuators for humanoid robots at the Hannover Messe 2026. In addition to developing and manufacturing components for the automotive industry, the company is increasingly specializing in parts for robotics companies.
When it comes to actuators for humanoid robots, major providers like Unitree, Boston Dynamics, and Tesla often prefer to do their own thing. This is because the actuators built into such a robot for its joints largely determine how precisely, powerfully, and quickly a robot can move. Accordingly, actuators are a key component that is important for the overall mechanical performance of a robot – also to be able to stand out from competitors. Schaeffler aims to offer such high-performance actuators in various sizes with its customized joint drives, which also represent a particularly expensive individual component in the field of robot components. Around 50 percent of the total costs for humanoid robots are attributable to actuators. The business with such actuators then becomes lucrative in the case of potential mass production of humanoid robots.
Efficient, Lightweight, and Compact
Schaeffler's actuator platform relies on the rotation principle. Efficient electric motors, via two-stage planetary or shaft gears, provide rotational movement that can be used in the various joints of a humanoid robot to generate powerful, natural movement.
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The electric motors used come with integrated power electronics and encoders. These can be equipped with the desired gear types depending on the application. The rotors with integrated bearings are specially designed to take up little space, thus enabling compact, lightweight actuators. According to Schaeffler, this results in a 20 percent reduction in installation space and a weight reduction of up to 500 g for its actuators. Compared to similar systems with approximately the same continuous torque, the actuators can be up to 10 mm more compact. The torque ranges between 60 and 250 Nm. Furthermore, the actuators are intended to be thermally stable over a longer period to withstand continuous operation. They also exhibit low back-drive ability. External forces are absorbed, effectively preventing an actuator from being driven backward.
Schaeffler is showcasing its actuators, awarded the Hermes Award, at the Hannover Messe, which takes place from April 20 to 24, 2026, at the Hannover exhibition grounds.
(olb)
